Best institutions to study Plant Nursery Operations and Management
A program that prepares individuals to operate and manage outdoor plant farms, tree and shrub nurseries, and related facilities that develop domesticated plant products for propagation, harvesting, and transplantation.
26 U.S. institutions graduated 156 Plant Nursery Operations and Management students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 01.0606, a specialization of Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services (CIP 01.06), and leads most directly to the Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers occupation (BLS SOC 11-9013).
About Plant Nursery Operations and Management programs
A program that prepares individuals to operate and manage outdoor plant farms, tree and shrub nurseries, and related facilities that develop domesticated plant products for propagation, harvesting, and transplantation. Includes instruction in applicable principles of plant science, farm and business management, nursery operations, equipment operation and maintenance, safety procedures, and personnel supervision.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Plant Nursery Operations and Management program is designed for individuals interested in managing outdoor plant farms, tree and shrub nurseries, and related facilities. This program prepares students to develop domesticated plant products for propagation, harvesting, and transplantation, making it ideal for those seeking a career in horticulture and plant management.
Students will gain knowledge in plant science, farm and business management, nursery operations, equipment maintenance, and safety procedures. Coursework emphasizes critical thinking, active listening, and effective communication skills essential for successful management in the horticultural field.
Credentials awarded
What Plant Nursery Operations and Management graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year109 graduates / yr · 17 institutions70%
- Associate's degree23 graduates / yr · 8 institutions15%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years13 graduates / yr · 3 institutions8.3%
- Bachelor's degree11 graduates / yr · 1 institution7.1%
Graduates over time
Plant Nursery Operations and Management completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 177 |
| 2013 | 197 |
| 2014 | 206 |
| 2015 | 191 |
| 2016 | 188 |
| 2017 | 230 |
| 2018 | 159 |
| 2019 | 213 |
| 2020 | 150 |
| 2021 | 121 |
| 2022 | 141 |
| 2023 | 130 |
| 2024 | 131 |
| 2025 | 156 |
Top 26 institutions for Plant Nursery Operations and Management, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Western Texas College Snyder, TXPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 29 | 53% | — |
| 2 | Chattahoochee Technical College Marietta, GAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 14 | 38% | — |
| 3 | Cuyamaca College El Cajon, CAPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 11 | 41% | — |
| 4 | Washington State University Pullman, WAPublicBachelor's | 11 | 60% | — |
| 5 | Lanier Technical College Gainesville, GAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 10 | 34% | — |
| 6 | Augusta Technical College Augusta, GAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 9 | 31% | — |
| 7 | Southern Crescent Technical College Griffin, GAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 7 | 58% | — |
| 8 | Hawaii Community College Hilo, HIPublicAssociate's | 7 | 33% | — |
| 9 | First Coast Technical College Saint Augustine, FLPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 6 | 77% | — |
| 10 | Oconee Fall Line Technical College Sandersville, GAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 6 | 65% | — |
| 11 | Fullerton College Fullerton, CAPublicAssociate's | 5 | 34% | — |
| 12 | Mt San Antonio College Walnut, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 5 | 45% | — |
| 13 | Diablo Valley College Pleasant Hill, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 4 | 49% | — |
| 14 | Modesto Junior College Modesto, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 4 | 30% | — |
| 15 | North Georgia Technical College Clarkesville, GAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 4 | 39% | — |
| 16 | Hennepin Technical College Brooklyn Park, MNPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 4 | 42% | — |
| 17 | Mendocino College Ukiah, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 3 | 25% | — |
| 18 | MiraCosta College Oceanside, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 3 | 41% | — |
| 19 | Georgia Northwestern Technical College Rome, GAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 3 | 43% | — |
| 20 | Merritt College Oakland, CAPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 2 | 26% | — |
| 21 | San Joaquin Delta College Stockton, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 2 | 35% | — |
| 22 | Santa Barbara City College Santa Barbara, CAPublicAssociate's | 2 | 34% | — |
| 23 | South Georgia Technical College Americus, GAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 2 | 61% | — |
| 24 | Santa Rosa Junior College Santa Rosa, CAPublicAssociate's | 1 | 37% | — |
| 25 | Edmonds College Lynnwood, WAPublicAssociate's | 1 | 29% | — |
| 26 | Coastal Pines Technical College Waycross, GAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 1 | 48% | — |
Offered in 7 states
Where Plant Nursery Operations and Management graduates come from. Each state links to all Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia | 9 | 56 | Chattahoochee Technical College14 / yr |
| California | 11 | 42 | Cuyamaca College11 / yr |
| Texas | 1 | 29 | Western Texas College29 / yr |
| Washington | 2 | 12 | Washington State University11 / yr |
| Hawaii | 1 | 7 | Hawaii Community College7 / yr |
| Florida | 1 | 6 | First Coast Technical College6 / yr |
| Minnesota | 1 | 4 | Hennepin Technical College4 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 11-9013, Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers, and its national outlook.
Graduates of this program can pursue careers as Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers, among other roles. The job outlook shows a slight decline of 1.3%, but there are approximately 85,500 annual openings with a median wage of $87,980. A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required for entry-level positions.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 01.0606
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managersprimary SOC 11-9013 | $89,900 | -1.3% Decline | ~85,500 | High school diploma or equivalent |
Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers SOC 37-3011 | $39,150 | +3.6% About as fast as average | ~158,200 | No formal educational credential |
First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers SOC 37-1012 | $58,430 | +2.3% About as fast as average | ~23,200 | High school diploma or equivalent |
First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers SOC 45-1011 | $59,320 | +2.5% About as fast as average | ~8,500 | High school diploma or equivalent |
Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation SOC 37-3012 | $46,340 | +3.8% About as fast as average | ~4,100 | High school diploma or equivalent |
Forest and Conservation Workers SOC 45-4011 | $43,680 | -4.7% Decline | ~2,000 | High school diploma or equivalent |
Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1041 | $98,700 | +4.1% About as fast as average | ~800 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
- Experience
- A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Plant Nursery Operations and Management programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
What graduates do on the job
- Collect and record growth, production, and environmental data.
- Manage nurseries that grow horticultural plants for sale to trade or retail customers, for display or exhibition, or for research.
- Direct and monitor trapping and spawning of fish, egg incubation, and fry rearing, applying knowledge of management and fish culturing techniques.
- Direct and monitor the transfer of mature fish to lakes, ponds, streams, or commercial tanks.
- Determine how to allocate resources and to respond to unanticipated problems, such as insect infestation, drought, and fire.
- Determine plant growing conditions, such as greenhouses, hydroponics, or natural settings, and set planting and care schedules.
Tools and technology used
Other Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services specializations
The 9 other 6-digit CIP codes under Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services (CIP 01.06).
- Applied Horticulture/CIP 01.0601
Horticulture Operations 2,248 graduates / yr141 institutions - Landscaping and GroundskeepingCIP 01.0605966 graduates / yr82 institutions
- Turf and Turfgrass ManagementCIP 01.0607385 graduates / yr35 institutions
- Greenhouse Operations and ManagementCIP 01.0604133 graduates / yr18 institutions
- Floriculture/CIP 01.0608
Floristry Operations and Management 119 graduates / yr19 institutions - Applied Horticulture/CIP 01.0699
Horticultural Business Services partial data95 graduates / yr9 institutions - Ornamental HorticultureCIP 01.060394 graduates / yr15 institutions
- Urban and Community HorticultureCIP 01.0610partial data26 graduates / yr5 institutions
Show 1 more CIP codes with no U.S. programs reported+
- Public Horticulture01.0609
No institution reported completions for these codes in the latest IPEDS year, so they have no page.
See all Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services programs →
Common questions
What types of credentials can I earn?+
You can earn various credentials, including an Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year, an Associate's degree, or an Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills such as critical thinking, active listening, reading comprehension, and effective communication.
What careers can I pursue after graduation?+
You can pursue careers as Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers, as well as roles in landscaping and groundskeeping.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook shows a decline of 1.3%, but there are still about 85,500 annual job openings.
What is the CIP code for Plant Nursery Operations and Management?+
Plant Nursery Operations and Management is CIP 01.0606 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services (CIP 01.06). NCES defines it as: A program that prepares individuals to operate and manage outdoor plant farms, tree and shrub nurseries, and related facilities that develop domesticated plant products for propagation, harvesting, and transplantation. Includes instruction in applicable principles of plant science, farm and business management, nursery operations, equipment operation and maintenance, safety procedures, and personnel supervision.
How many institutions offer Plant Nursery Operations and Management programs?+
26 U.S. institutions reported Plant Nursery Operations and Management graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 7 states, awarding 156 credentials in the year. That is 3.7% of all Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services graduates.
How much do Plant Nursery Operations and Management graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers occupation, which Plant Nursery Operations and Management most directly leads to, pays a median of $89,900 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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